EMU men’s soccer defeats Cairn, 3-0, at Cialella Classic

After back-to-back losses to quality opponents, Eastern Mennonite’s soccer men needed a quick about face. They got it Sunday afternoon, controlling Cairn for a 3-0 win at the Cialella Classic in Camden, N.J.

The Royals had been shut out in their previous two losses, but got things rolling in the first half against the Highlanders. Junior Mark Mast (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) fired a shot from the top of the box which deflected in for a 1-0 lead.

In the second, Christian Rhine (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) was the first to add insurance. He dribbled around a handful of Cairn defenders and then launched a shot through traffic to make it 2-0. Then Juan Flores (Mt. Jackson, Va./Stonewall Jackson) took a direct kick from just outside of the box and bent it around the CU wall to hit the right side of the net for the final score.

The men finished 1-1 at the Cialella Classic and took second place based on goal differential. Jonathan Bush (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), Mark Mast and Andrew Yoder (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) were all named to the All-Tournament Team.

The win evens EMU’s record at 2-2. They return to Harrisonburg this week for their home opener against Lebanon Valley on Wednesday. Saturday night the Royals host Virginia Wesleyan for their ODAC opener.